Thursday, 20 April 2017

Tenerife attracts many tourists from all over the world, eager to enjoy its pristine beaches and year-round sunshine. Perhaps you've already discovered its beautiful, volcanic shores, and have become a frequent visitor. If not, here are 10 facts about Tenerife that you probably didn't know, and might just convince you to make it your next vacation destination.

Las Vistas

1.Being the largest of all the Canary Islands, you'll have access to an enormous number of outstanding resorts, sand beaches, and hotels that will surpass all your expectations.

2. Tenerife shares the same flag with Scotland. However, its nearly 365 days of blue skies guarantee that it doesn't have the same climate.

3. The popular film, "Clash of the Titans," was filmed in Teide National Park.

4. Mount Teide, the most obvious landmark of Teide National Park, is the third largest volcano in the world.

5. You won't have any difficulty finding a place to lay your towel on the 1.2 miles of pristine, natural sand that comprises El Médano, Tenerife's longest beach.

6. William Shakespeare so enjoyed Tenerife's home-grown wine that he actually made reference to it in two of his plays. He also negotiated as part of his annual salary, to receive a barrel of Malmsey wine.

7. Mount Teide, is widely credited with casting the world's largest sea shadow. Talk about impressive!

8. Tenerife's Siam Park, Europe's largest water park, boasts 7 world records including the world's biggest man-made wave and the largest Thai building in the world outside of Asia. It also received recognition by TripAdvisor as the best water park in the world in 2015.

9. Miami-Dade County, located on the very southernmost tip of Florida, is Tenerife's "sister community."

10. Finally, though more of a myth buster than a fact, the black sand beaches that Tenerife is most famous for, are not dirty as many believe. It's simply the color of the fine, volcanic sand found in the area. You won't walk on the beach and end up with black-stained feet.

So what are you waiting for? Finalize your vacation itinerary to visit Tenerife over your next holiday. You'll never regret it!

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

In a bygone era when the expressionless face of a doctor would proudly announce that, “A dose of sunshine is what is needed to remedy your affliction”, and sent you packing to the island of Tenerife, little did he know how popular this little island would become for that very sunshine he prescribed and how it would grow to become one of the most popular tourist islandsin today’s world.

Unfortunately, due to the hedonistic club scene fuelled by alcohol and yet more alcohol, it quickly earned the nickname Tene –grief, but the island has been undergoing a transformation and now, the island of Eternal Spring is better known as a world class destination boasting beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels, top quality restaurants, amazing nightlife and everything else a visitor could wish for in terms of activities and pleasures.

So why not join me on a short trip around the island and experience some of its delights?With Tenerife being less than 800 square miles, it’s astonishing that it has 12 micro climates in different areas within short drives of one another.In colder months, snow can cause road closures, while a short drive away, visitors sunbathe on sandy beaches.Another contrast is that although the Mercedes Mountains are cloaked in lichen and moss, the black rivers consisting of petrified lava find their way through the seemingly lifeless body of desert known as Las Cañadas, located at the centre of the island.

Resorts, Towns & Villages

The tourist resorts of Los Cristianos, Las Americas and Costa Adeje are the main resorts in the south of the island and still have evidence of the banana plantations that once existed pre-tourism days.

Near these three main resorts in the south, there are numerous towns and villages filled with charm such as Los Abrigos which is the embodiment of the typical Canarian fishing harbour where the daily catch is sold directly to the quayside restaurants. Or there is the windsurfer’s paradise called El Medano with its golden sandy beach and perfect coastal wind that makes it such a haven for water sports.

Another sport that thrives on the island owing to the perfect year round weather is the game of golf. For this reason you have the resorts of Golf del Sur and Amarilla Golf which are purpose built around professionally built and manicured golf courses. The resorts are very much self-contained and come complete with bars, restaurants and all kinds of entertainment venues.

On the west coast, you can find Los Gigantes which is famous for its giant cliffs and are usually better when viewed from the ocean to experience their sheer size and is also close to the village of Masca which is a hikers dream. Perched on mountainous ridges, visitors flock to admire the beauty of this village. It’s the closest you’ll get to Shangri-La on this side of the Atlantic. There are some excellent excursions available so why not take a look at what's on offer.

The resort of Puerto de la Cruz in the north was the first and original resort on the island until the south became a permanent fixture. Its flora and fauna are a welcome change from its dry and arid looking sisters in the south. The harbour houses old cannons which once guarded against ruthless invaders who were quickly sent on their way.Garachico offers even more history with its colonial styled mansions which are surrounded by narrow cobbled streets. During the last volcanic eruption in 1909, it received the last of the lava flow from Teide which adds more to the adventure of exploring this little town.

Other Places to Visit

Known as the third largest volcano in the world, Mount Teide dominates the island and is the dividing line between north and south. During winter months, it is snow covered and as you descend from the volcano, the landscape reveals itself in all its glory, from the lunar type scenery at the summit that was used in Clash of the Titans, to the delightful vineyards of La Orotava.

Santa Cruz

I couldn’t complete this article without mentioning the capital of the island, Santa Cruz. Once a drab and weary looking place, it has now become a cosmopolitan, bustling and chic place to visit. It is also home to one of the biggest carnivals in the world and has now become a very popular port of call for many cruise liners. With its many galleries, museums, cafes and shopping centres, it makes the perfect trip.

About the author

Peter runs Tenerife Forum and is convinced he has found his very own Shangri-La on the island of Tenerife.Make sure you check out the Facebook page for daily updates.

Thursday, 2 March 2017

1. While most people believe that vodka comes from Russia, the truth is that the highest quality, purest vodka is made in a small Canarian borough. Rated in the United States for being the purest and smoothest vodka available on the market, Blat Vodka keeps all of the traditional taste while avoiding any painful hangovers.

2. The city of San Cristobal de La Laguna, back in 1999, had been declared as being a World Heritate site as a truly unique example of a walled, non-colonial city. La Laguna was founded in 1496 and was the capital of Tenerife up until the 19th Century and is currently the third largest city of the Canary Islands.

3. Canarian wrestling, or lucha canaria, is the native regional sport. This is a sport similar to Symo and it takes place in a terrero, which is a circle of sand, where two opponents will try to topple each other without causing harm. One of the two will be forced to touch the floor with a body part besides the feet.

4. Siam Park of South Tenerife has recently been named for being the best waterpark in the entire world by the people at TripAdvisor. The award had been presented in the second edition of the Traveler's Choice Awards where it passed 300 competitors from all over the world.

5. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, a director, script writer and producer, was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Known on an international level for directing the film 28 Weeks Later, he had been nominated for an Oscar for Esposados, the 1996 short film. He also won a Goya, which is the equivalent of an Oscar, for being Best New Director for the film Intact in 2001. Then, in 2007 and 2010, he launched two other films called 28 Weeks Later and Intruders.

6. Measuring in at 2,390m, the Internationally famous Teide Observatory opened up in the 1960s, marking the beginning of astrophysics throughout the Canary Islands. The geographical location and the unpolluted, clear sky have been contributed to it becoming on the the best places in all of the world where you can study the sun, as well as being home to the finest telescopes in Europe.

7. Prior to the Spanish conquerors arriving, Tenerife was divided into nine smaller kingdoms, with each having a ruling King. These kingdoms were Abona, Anaga, Adeje, Icod, Daute, Taoro, Güímar, Tacoronte, and Tegueste.

For more information about the island, visit the Tenerife Forum site for topics covering all aspects of the island and our popular Facebook page that provides daily updates of fabulous photos and current news.

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and has long been one of the most popular holiday getaways for Brits. What makes it one of the most popular places to visit is its constant sunshine, the stunning landscapes, and the world-class beaches. For anyone looking to book a trip here, there are plenty of things to choose from including luxury and budget hotels as well as all-inclusive or self catering. Tenerife is also the perfect island for exploring and getting a chance to enjoy outdoor adventures.

The Resorts

Many of the best resorts are found on the Southwest coast of Tenerife. These include the Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and the Playa de las Americas. All these resorts boast the perfect beaches to get the most from your stay.

Puerto de la Cruz is the island's main resort attraction with brightly colored fishing boats that add to the charm of this sophisticated locale. the place to go for culture and sophistication and Fañabé Costa Sur Hotel has everything for anyone wishing to feel exclusive with high-end shopping and Blue-flag beaches.

Exploring Tenerife

Tenerife must be explored by car so be sure to rent one for your journey. Besides getting to and from your resort, there are plenty of wonderful drives to take along the coast and inland. Go up through Masca Gorge or see Mount Teide.

AutoReisen is a very popular car rental service that gets good reviews.

Drive to the National park where Mount Teide is to explore more on foot. You can also drive to the island of La Gomera and explore the rainforest. Also, see Palmitos Park for a chance to see the botanical gardens there.

Tenerife Attractions

Water sports are popular in all of the Canary Islands. Expect to get all you can from them when visiting Tenerife. There are great surfing locations on the island as there are for kite surfing and windsurfing. You will want to do more than just lay on your beach lounger, after all.

Take a whale or dolphin cruise on a boat to see them in their natural habitat. See many endangered species by visiting Loro Parque. This is a paradise on the island that is the home of many colorful parrots and orcas. For a family adventure, make sure to spend a day at Siam Park, a Thai-themed water park that has dozens of adrenaline-pumping rides.